anarchism
Americannoun
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a doctrine urging the abolition of government or governmental restraint as the indispensable condition for full social and political liberty.
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the methods or practices of anarchists, as the use of violence to undermine government.
noun
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political theory a doctrine advocating the abolition of government
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the principles or practice of anarchists
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Anarchy is sometimes used to refer to any state of chaos or lawlessness.
Other Word Forms
- proanarchism noun
- semianarchism noun
Etymology
Origin of anarchism
Compare meaning
How does anarchism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you're a proponent of anarchism, you believe in a political system that does away with all government. Someone who favors anarchism can be described as an anarchist, a person who places the most political importance on individual freedom, especially from powerful governments. Anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes hierarchies — systems in which a more powerful person or group is in charge — and favors equality between all people. The Greek root word of anarchism is anarkhia, "lack of a leader," or "the state of no government."
Vocabulary lists containing anarchism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other themes included veganism – total avoidance of any animal food or products – and anarchism.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2025
Malcolm McLaren settled on anarchism as the philosophy for the Sex Pistols, which were launched as a marketing tool for his fashion shop Sex with Vivienne Westwood in London.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2023
I was studying — like everybody else those days — Marxism, anarchism.
From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2023
Opponents of socialism and anarchism argued further that workers were free to accept the terms of employment or leave if not satisfied.
From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022
Just last week, she had tried setting me up with Raizel Ackermann on the first floor, in a dinner that had exploded into a heated argument over anarchism.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
